Attempted charter cuts leave some bad feelings

Published 9:53 pm, Thursday, March 28, 2013

Local legislators inserted a poison pill into the state budget on behalf of the Albany school district that would have stripped millions of dollars in charter school funding. The proposal is now dead, but it has left some hard feelings in its wake.

District officials vigorously defended the proposal, and pointed out the saturation of charter schools in Albany and the increase in funding they have received in recent years. The plan would have eliminated about $6 million of the $35 million the Albany school district is expected to send to charter schools next year. Charter officials said that would have caused some schools to cut up to a quarter of their staffs.

Roughly 2,500 students attend Albany's 10 charter schools, and about 500 come from other districts.

And while district officials say their targeting of charter funds is purely over money, others are concerned that race and economics can't be ignored.

Those unhappy with the attempt to cut money from charter schools include Albany Common Council President Carolyn McLaughlin. She believes the district's efforts will have an adverse effect on the city's minority population.

Here's an excerpt from a letter she sent to local legislators:

"Since most of these students come from the minority community I am compelled to voice my opposition to this legislation. We already suffer from a dismal graduation rate in our city and I don't want to see it erode further due to decisions such as this. When the issue of charter school funding was discussed during the campaign you spoke about seeking a solution that addressed the needs of all of our students. I represent families that have students in both public systems of education, as you do. I ask you to explore a different approach to funding the education of the children of the City of Albany. One should not be sacrificed for the other. The children cannot speak for themselves. They and their parents trust you to keep the promise you made during your campaign for office."

Merging business, medicine

The fields of medicine and business intersect at every hospital and at many private companies in the medical field. But there is a great division in the education and life skills of people in each of those fields.

The new program is a response to the changing health care field, which requires business acumen and skills like analyzing data and financial statements, said Dr. Vince Verdile, dean of Albany Medical College and a Union Graduate College trustee.

"For future doctors, the MBA is a unique and valuable credential as they launch their careers," Union Graduate College President Laura Schweitzer said in a statement. "And armed with an understanding of the complexities of health care, they can be leaders and innovators in improving our system."

Students are currently being recruited for fall 2014 and will be accepted at both Albany Medical College and Union Graduate College.